In a groundbreaking study published in Science in 2021, researchers found that supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) can increase muscle insulin sensitivity in overweight or obese prediabetic postmenopausal women. The study, which marks a significant stride in understanding anti-aging treatments, was led by Mihoko Yoshino and her team. The study can be found here.
Over the span of 10 weeks, the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial evaluated the effect of NMN supplementation on metabolic function. The study found that insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, as measured through the application of hyperinsulinemia-euglycemic clamp, increased following NMN supplementation. Additionally, skeletal muscle insulin signaling indicators such as the phosphorylation of protein kinase AKT and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), also increased post-supplementation, whereas no change was observed in the placebo group.
Giving further weight to the muscle-building potential of NMN, the study notes an upregulation in the expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRB), a key player in muscle regeneration. The expression of other genes related to muscle remolding was also increased. This suggests that NMN not only influences muscle insulin sensitivity but also has a role in muscle remodeling.
The rigorous experimental procedures, such as the use of a double-blind, placebo-controlled design and the objective assessment of metabolic function, lend credibility to the study's findings. The results provide a deeper understanding of the role of NAD+ biosynthesis in metabolic health, and show the potential of NMN as a nutritional intervention to improve metabolic function in prediabetic postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese.
However, the study faces certain limitations and sources of potential bias, including the limited sample size and relatively short duration of the intervention. Moreover, the research team, through their affiliations with MetroBiotech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., may have potential conflicts of interest.
Key Takeaways
- A groundbreaking study reports that NMN supplementation can increase muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic overweight women.
- The treatment also enhanced muscle insulin signaling and muscle remolding.
- The use of rigorous experimental procedures lends credibility to the study.
- The researchers have potential conflicts of interest due to their affiliations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
- More large-scale, long-term studies are needed to confirm and expand on these findings.
